Window well for coach bodies



26, 1952 M. M.-BRQCKWAY 2,608,434

wmoow WELL FOR COACH BODIES Filed March 6, 1950 INVENTOR.

Mae/1404K deem Mr BY wam ow Jtzarnfy Patented Aug. 26, 1952 UNITED PA ENT W WINDOW-WELL FOR COACH ooms l fM uril lo M. lirocl rwayJios-Angeles, Application March 6, 1950; Serial No. 147.777-

This invention-relates to a motor coach body or the like, and more particularly to a body construction' having panelslwith improved window wells formed therein. i 1

It is a general object ofthe invention to provide a coach body, including one or more panels which form part of the side structure of the body, wherein such panel has an outwardly disposed planar portion which is secured to the frame and comprises part of the outer bodyskin, and wherein said panel has an inwardly dished portion comprising a window well. i en hembie i t P v de acoach dy t a panel as described above and wherein the window well has a horizontal depth approximately equal to the horizontal thickness of the frame, whereby the innerwside or thewindow well will form a portion of the inner skin of thecoach b i" :l.) .i f

Another object is to provide a panel including an outer skin portion and a window well portion formed by dishing the panel, and wherein the outer skin portion has means for securing it to a panel located therebelow.

The above and other objects and advantages will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a motor coach embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken approximately on the line IIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the window well panels, showing other portions of the coach body in section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken approximately on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, the coach body 8 includes vertical frame members 8 and I0. The frame member 8 has a vertical web l2 with oppositely extending and angularly disposed flanges l4 and 18. The frame member III is preferably of angle iron and includes flanges l8 and 20 which lie at right angles to each other.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a sheet metal panel 22 which has an outwardly disposed vertical planar portion 24 and an inwardly dished planar portion 28. The vertical edges of the panel 22 are turned inwardly as at 28 and located between the vertical frame members 8 and I8. Nutted bolts 30 extend through the frame members and the panel edges 28 to tie them together as a rigid unit As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the inwardly dished panel portion 28 is defined by side walls 32 and a downwardly .and outwardly slanting bottom portion 34. The depth of vthe dished port-ion 28 issuch thatthe outer planarportionlfl of the panel 22 lies at the outside of.the frame menibers 8 and i0 while the dished'portion .28 lies at the inside of the frame member 8. Consequently; the outer panel portion 24 comprisesa'portion of the outer skin of the coach body while'th'e dished portion 28 constitutes a portion ofthe inner skin of. the body. If desired, a continuous inner skin sheet 38 can be placed ag'ainstthe inner. sides of the dished portions 28 and secured tofthe flange l4 of the frame member I 2 by. bolts 8 The top of the window well- 28 base molding 40 suitably secured thereto; the bottom ofthe molding being'crimpedas at 42 to fit ,overfjthe edge of the QQntinuous inner skin sheet 38. The extreme upper edge 5- of the dished portion), ZfiJas shown in Fig. 2,1ist'ufned inwardly to." pro-video. flange 44 which will closely filifl a. window frame when the window is in its raised position "as in dicated in Fig. 2.

Lying over or forming the outside of the window well is a panel 48 whose upper edge may be formed into a molding 50, the molding being spaced outwardly from the window frame 48. The bottom edge of the body panel 48 is provided with an outwardly offset flange 52 which terminates adjacent the outwardly slanted bottom 34 of the window well and which lies in spaced relation thereto to provide a. drain passage 54. Consequently, when rain water falls into the window well from the outer side of the window frame 48, it will drain to the exterior of the coach body through the drain opening 54.

The bottom edge of the panel 22 is crimped as at 58 to receive the upper edge of a molding strip 58 and said molding strip in turn has its lower edge 80 crimped to fit over the upper edge of a panel 82 which is disposed therebelow. Consequently it is seen that the drain outlet aperture 54 is located a considerable distance above the bottom of the coach body. This produces adequate drainage of the window well at a point where muddy water will not be splashed into the window well by the wheels of the coach or of adjacent vehicles.

3 c coach body unit which can be readily assembled in successive sections depending upon the length of the body desired.

A panel with a window well formed in accordance with my invention insures a leak-proof terial, portions of which lie inwaraiyand outwardly disposed vertical planes, that portion in the outwardly disposed plane comprising part of the outer skin of a coach body, the portion' in the inwardly disposed plane comprising a part of "'er skin f body, the outer portion of "gre over-mi'extent th'an the inn'e'r and-bottom (if-the inner portion and adjacent sansof the outenportion, and said inner partion' n'd fc'onnectiirg structure constituting a w'welll 1 p V 2. a coach body, affr'ame having 'spaced uprights, 1a "pane-1 supported by the uprights, a porti fthe panel lying at the outer sici'es of'the l'it'sto provide fan outer skin portion, and another pardon-oi the panel "being dis li'ed' 'iii weirdly between the uprights tdpr'dvid'e a window well the inwardly dished portion comprising a panei 'portionf disposed above and in inwardly J ced parailel relation to theodter skin-portion Jt Q-QE Z Q t r '3' Thejs 1'1" turezi'nrnim 2, and, Said dished tiodhav-iiig a considerable area thereof in an iip'r ht plane lying, approximately fiush'withthe mner si'desof the uprights;

on, connect g structure etween the sides 4. In a coach body, a frame having spaced uprights, a panel supported by said uprights, a lower portion of the panel lying at the outer sides of the uprights to provide an outer skin portion,

an upper portion of the panel being dished inwardly to provide a window well, and a second panel secured to said frame at the outer side thereof to provide an outer skin portion, said second panel overlying said window well in outwardly spaced relation thereto, and the lower edge of said second panel being spaced from the bottom of said window well to permit water to drain outwardly from said window well and beneath the'edge o'f said second panel.

5. In a coach body, a frame, a panel supported by said frame, aportion of said panel being disposed-in a plane at the outer side of said frame to provide an outer skin portion, another portion of the panel being dished inwardly to pro- UNITED s r-Arne PATENTS 160,058 Switzerland Ma y 16, 193? 

